Cartridge for storing biosample plates and use in automated data storage systems

Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosure relate to a biosample cartridge that includes storage slots for holding biosample plates. The cartridge has the same form factor as data tape cartridges to allow the cartridge to be handled by the same robotic mechanisms that handle data cartridges in an automated tape library. One aspect of the disclosure concerns a biosample storage cartridge that has a movable door to provide access to inside the cartridge and a plate holder disposed inside the cartridge. The plate holder includes a plurality of slots for receiving biosample plates that are scanned and processed by the automated tape library.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A cartridge for storing biosample plates, comprising:
 an enclosure including a movable door to provide access to inside the enclosure, the enclosure having the same form factor as a data tape cartridge used in an automated tape library; 
 a holder disposed inside the enclosure and having a plurality of slots for receiving a plurality of biosample plates that are scanned and processed by the automated tape library; and 
 a plurality of memory modules for storing data related to the biosamples, biosample plates and biosample cartridge wherein the memory modules comprise a nonvolatile memory selected from the group consisting of electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory, phase-change memory, flash memory, NOR memory, and NAND memory. 
 
     
     
       2. The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge is an LTO type cartridge. 
     
     
       3. The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the slots are slightly wider than a thickness of the biosample plates to allow the holder to retain the biosample plates in place when moving. 
     
     
       4. The cartridge of  claim 1 , further comprising a wireless communication interface coupled to the memory modules for sending data to and receiving data from the automated tape library. 
     
     
       5. The cartridge of  claim 4 , wherein the wireless communication interface uses one or more of optical lasers and radio signals for communication. 
     
     
       6. The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the holder comprises an elastic material, and
 wherein the slots are characterized by a thickness slightly smaller than a thickness of the biosample plates. 
 
     
     
       7. The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the holder is removable. 
     
     
       8. The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the biosample plates further comprise nanoparticles, and the automated tape library reads and writes data to the nanoparticles on the biosample plates using an electromagnetic tape head. 
     
     
       9. A cartridge for storing biosample plates, comprising:
 an enclosure including a movable door to provide access to inside the enclosure, the enclosure having the same form factor as a data tape cartridge used in an automated tape library; 
 a holder disposed inside the enclosure and having a plurality of slots for receiving a plurality of biosample plates that are scanned and processed by the automated tape library; 
 a plurality of memory modules for storing data related to the biosamples, biosample plates and biosample cartridge; 
 a wireless communication interface coupled to the memory modules for sending data to and receiving data from the automated tape library, 
 wherein the wireless communication interface uses one or more of optical lasers and radio signals for communication, and 
 wherein the wireless communication interface is a radio antenna selected from the group consisting of a quarter-wave antenna, a fractal antenna, and an inductor of an inductor-capacitor oscillator. 
 
     
     
       10. An analytical system comprising:
 an automated tape library; and 
 a cartridge comprising:
 an enclosure haying a holder inside the enclosure and a movable door to provide access to the holder, the enclosure having the same form factor as a data tape cartridge used in the automated tape library, and the holder comprising a plurality of slots for receiving a plurality of biosample plates that are scanned and processed by the automated tape library; and 
 plurality of memory modules for storing data related to the biosamples, biosampie plates and biosample cartride, wherein the memory modules comprise a nonvolatile memory selected from the group consisting of electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory, phase-change memory, flash memory, NOR memory, and NAND memory. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The analytical system of  claim 10 , wherein the cartridge is an LTO type cartridge. 
     
     
       12. The analytical system of  claim 10 , wherein the cartridge comprises a wireless communication interface coupled to the memory modules for sending data to and receiving data from the automated tape library. 
     
     
       13. The analytical system of  claim 12 , wherein the wireless communication interface uses optical lasers for communication. 
     
     
       14. The analytical system of  claim 10 , the automated tape library further comprising:
 at least one write head configured to magnetize nanoparticles associated with biosamples in the biosampie plates; and 
 at least one read head configured to read magnetized nanoparticles associated with the biosamples in the biosample plates, 
 wherein the nanoparticles and the magnetized nanoparticles are either embedded in the biosample plates or attached to the biosamples.